Reporting Child Abuse - Missouri

Under Missouri law, certain individuals (including doctors and health care professionals, mental health care professionals, social workers, child care providers, probation or parole officers, teachers and school officials, clergy, law enforcement officers and others) are required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect to the Division of Children within the Department of Social Services. Any other person besides those specifically named in the statute may report known or suspected abuse to the Missouri division of children. Reports are to be made by telephone or in person.

Child abuse is defined to include physical, mental, sexual abuse and neglect of a child.

To access the specific sections summarized above in the official Missouri Code online, including any relevant definitions, follow:

For more information about reporting child abuse in Missouri, how to spot abuse, and additional resources for mandatory reporters, see the Missouri Department of Social Services Website, Children’s section and the following link: